VALDEZ, Alaska – The silver salmon are returning to Valdez. After a weak silver salmon season last summer, anglers are delighted to be finding silvers at the end of their line this year. Isaac Watson caught the biggest silver salmon on Big Prize Friday to win the $500 cash prize. Watson’s 12.32 pound fish also won him the daily 1st place prize worth hundreds of dollars, however, it wasn’t quite large enough see him onto the Silver Salmon Derby overall leader board.
The overall standings for the Silver Salmon Derby are as follows: Currently in 1st place is Pam Chapman-Holloway of Rapid City, SD with 13.32 lb silver caught on July 25th. In the halibut derby, Fred Hyder of Willow, AK is currently in 1st place with a 253.8 lbs halibut he caught aboard the Jaime Lynn on July 10th.

The 11th annual Valdez Women's Silver Salmon Derby is scheduled to take place Friday, August 7th thru Saturday, August 8th. It is the only women’s fish derby in Alaska. Early Registration for the event will begin August 1st – 8th at the Prospector Valdez. The event will start off at 6pm on Friday with the Silver Salmon Sisterhood™ Opening Ceremonies at the Civic Center and Saturday, August 8th at 8pm the Silver Salmon Sisterhood™ Awards Party will conclude the derby.

VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby brought hundreds of children to Valdez Saturday in hopes of winning a longboard, skateboard or fishing pole in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. This is the 8th Annual Kids Pink Salmon Derby.
The weigh-in station gave away 300 free t-shirts to kids age 5 to 16 that got a line wet. The winner of the 5 to 7 year-old age division was seven-year old Jace Branshaw of Valdez who won his age division and took top honors for largest fish in the derby with a 6.22 pound pink salmon. Abby Wease took 2nd place and had the 3rd largest fish with a 5.44 pound pink. And Valdez local, seven year old Autumn Boone, sealed 3rd place in her age division with a 5.36 pound pink.

VALDEZ, Alaska – The biggest halibut of the 2015 Valdez Halibut Derby season was caught on a jig Friday. Fred Hyder of Willow, Alaska was fishing on the Jaime Lynn with a group of friends from Tennessee and Kentucky when he hooked the big one. Captain Josh Hughes said he was a bit nervous when he realized it was a big fish “It was the first fish of the day and it was caught on a jig which is a hook that is easier to lose fish on” Hughes commented Friday Night. “It made me real nervous. I was thinking - It’s a big fish and it’s on a jig, oh no. Luckily Fred did awesome. He kept the line tight”. Hughes said the fish went under the boat twice before coming in.

PINK SALMON, SILVER SALMON, LING COD AND HALIBUT ALL MADE A SHOWING IN VALDEZ

VALDEZ, Alaska – July 1st was a wonderful day of fishing for Marlin Gogowich of Stoney Plain, Canada. Gogowich reeled in a trophy size 57.4 pound ling cod on the opening day for ling cod in Prince William Sound and followed it up by bringing in a 135.4 pound halibut. Gogowich goes fishing with a group of men, all from Canada, every year in Valdez and this was a most memorable trip. Gogowich took 1st place for Week #6 in the halibut derby.
Gogowich’s halibut was big, but not enough to get him into the overall standings. Currently Scott Widdison of Meridian, Idaho is leading the derby with a 194.2 pound flatfish he caught June 22nd aboard the Jaime Lynn. Jeffrey Group of Berlin, is currently in 2nd place with a 170.2 pound halibut and Daniel Bryant Jr. of Palmer, Alaska is currently in 3rd place with a 150.8 pound halibut caught June 21st.

VALDEZ, Alaska – Scott Widdison of Meridian, Idaho reeled in a 194.2 pound halibut June 22nd aboard the Jaime Lynn to take the lead in the Valdez Halibut Derby. Jeffrey Gropp of Berlin, Wisconsin is currently in 2nd place overall with the 170.2 pound flat fish he caught June 15th aboard the Dan Orion. Daniel Bryant Jr. of Palmer, Alaska is currently in 3rd place overall with the 150.8 pound halibut he caught June 21st aboard the Halibut Grove. Halibut fishing in the sound is picking up with the nicer weather allowing folks to get further out. The ocean entrances are always great places to catch halibut says a report from Alaska Department of Fish And Game (ADF&G) “Latouche and southern and northern ends of Montague are good bets too”, according to the weekly ADF&G report.

VALDEZ, Alaska – “This is the best halibut season I have ever seen”, said Freida Wiley of Valdez after returning from an overnight trip in Prince William Sound to halibut fish with friends. Wiley is no stranger to halibut fishing as her husband is the Captain of Dan Orion Charters. “It was so much fun out there. I fished for 13 hours straight. I am so tired”, she exclaimed. When asked what the secret to her fishing was Freida said, “Listen to your Captain”. When asked if that held true at home, she laughed and said “no”.

VALDEZ, Alaska – Jason Rood of North Pole is currently leading the Halibut Hullabaloo with a 123. 4 pound halibut he caught June 13th aboard the Jaime Lynn. Rood might not be in the lead if Paul Richards of Bend, Oregon had purchased a derby ticket. Richards reeled in a fish that measured 164 inches. “According to the computer, the fish would have translated to 135 pounds”. Richards did not weigh in the fish because he did not have a derby ticket. When asked for a fishing tip, Richards, “Get a good captain, buy a (derby) ticket and get some big fish”. The Halibut Hullabaloo June 12th through 21st. The person catching the largest halibut during that time period will win $1,000 cash in addition to the regular derby prizes.

VALDEZ, Alaska – Warm weather and an early Spring have given Valdez charters and boat owners an opportunity to get their boats into the water and get fishing a bit early. Harbormaster Jeremy Talbott said he has seen a lot of private boaters hitting the waters to set pots for shrimp and has already seen two 75 pound halibut come across the docks. The Halibut Derby began Saturday the 23rd and the leaderboard is dominated by Josh’s. Young Josh Hughes of Wasilla Alaska is currently leading the derby with a 123.6 pound halibut he caught May 27th aboard the Jaime Lynn. Josh Kramer of Fredricksburg, Texas is currently in 2nd place with a 116.0 pound halibut he caught May 25th and Josh Wendt of North Pole is currently in 3rd place with a 109.4 pound halibut he caught May 23rd aboard the Aleisha.

Charter Captains in Valdez are also preparing for a busy season as anglers have high hopes of being the winner of the $15,000 first place prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby. A ticket costs $10 for the day or $50 for the season and must be purchased before heading out on the water. Ticket sale locations can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com. The limit for halibut in Prince William Sound is still two per person, and one of those fish can be no longer than 29 inches in length. The derby shack located kitty corner from the Harbormasters office.

In addition to the grand prize of $15,000, 2nd place prize of $5,000 and 3rd place of $2,000 for catching the largest three fish, halibut derby anglers can also win weekly 1st and 2nd place prizes in the derby. The Halibut Hullabaloo is slated for June 12th through 21st. The angler that catches the largest halibut during this period, will win $1,000 in addition to the daily prizes.
This year, the Valdez Fish Derbies will say goodbye to the truck raffle and hello to $10,000 cash. Every daily derby ticket purchased equals one raffle ticket, and each season ticket purchased equals five raffle tickets for the $10,000 drawing at the end of the season.

The Kids Pink Salmon Derby has been set for Saturday, July 18th and will feature 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes in four different age divisions. The Kids derby is free and open to kids age 5 to 16 years of age. The Silver Salmon Derby in Valdez will again boast a $15,000 first place prize and daily prizes and runs July 18th through September 6th. The Annual Valdez Women’s Derby is slated for Saturday, August 8th with an opening ceremony Friday, August 7th and the closing ceremony Saturday night.

There will be a $500 prize for the vendor and operator selling the winning derby ticket in both derbies. For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com

HALIBUT DERBY STARTS THIS SATURDAY IN VALDEZ

VALDEZ, Alaska – Warm weather and an early Spring have given Valdez charters and boat owners an opportunity to get their boats into the water and get fishing a bit early. Harbormaster Jeremy Talbott said he has seen a lot of private boaters hitting the waters to set pots for shrimp and has already seen two 75 pound halibut come across the docks. Charter Captains in Valdez are also preparing for a busy season as anglers have high hopes of being the winner of the $15,000 first place prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby. A ticket costs $10 for the day or $50 for the season and must be purchased before heading out on the water. Ticket sale locations can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com. The limit for halibut in Prince William Sound is still two per person, and one of those fish can be no longer than 28 inches in length. The derby shack located kitty corner from the Harbormasters office.

In addition to the grand prize of $15,000, 2nd place prize of $5,000 and 3rd place of $2,000 for catching the largest three fish, halibut derby anglers can also win weekly 1st and 2nd place prizes in the derby. The Halibut Hullabaloo is slated for June 12th through 21st. The angler that catches the largest halibut during this period,will win $1,000 in addition to the daily prizes.
This year, the Valdez Fish Derbies will say goodbye to the truck raffle and hello to $10,000 cash. Every daily derby ticket purchased equals one raffle ticket, and each season ticket purchased equals five raffle tickets for the $10,000 drawing at the end of the season.

The Kids Pink Salmon Derby has been set for Saturday, July 18th and will feature 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes in four different age divisions. The Kids derby is free and open to kids age 5 to 16 years of age. The Silver Salmon Derby in Valdez will again boast a $15,000 first place prize and daily prizes and runs July 18th through September 6th. The Annual Valdez Women’s Derby is slated for Saturday, August 8th with an opening ceremony Friday, August 7th and the closing ceremony Saturday night.

There will be a $500 prize for the vendor and operator selling the winning derby ticket in both derbies.
For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com

DERBY FEATURES BIG CASH PRIZES

The Valdez Halibut Derby is slated to begin Saturday, May 23rd. With the purchase of a $10 daily ticket or a season ticket for $50, derby anglers have a chance of winning a $15,000 cash prize if they catch the largest halibut in the derby. Anyone who purchases a Valdez Fish Derbies ticket will be entered in a drawing for $10,000 whether they go fishing or not. For more information on the derbies, visit www.valdezfishderbies.com

VALDEZ WOMAN WINS TRUCK , TOWNE HOLDS ON TO WIN SILVER DERBY

Pictured: TC Greene of Valdez with her prize

VALDEZ, Alaska – There were not many changes on the leader board the last week of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby or the Halibut Derby in Valdez. In the Silver Salmon Derby, a contender came in late August 28th that was two tenths of a pound shy of knocking Amanda Towne out of 1st place. Towne reeled in a 17.54 pound silver during the Women’s Derby August 9th and Paul Williams of Eagle River brought in a 17.52 pound silver on August 28th. Towne owns the distinction of being the only Women’s Silver Salmon Derby winner to also win the $15,000 cash prize in the silver derby. Williams won 2nd place and $5,000 for the fish he reeled up aboard the Silly Billy II. Greg Ledsworth of Tamarac, Florida took 3rd place in the silver derby with the 17.50 pound silver he caught from shore August 25th. The Big Prize Friday $500 winner was Nathen Ward of Fairbanks who reeled in a 14.08 pound silver August 29th aboard the Mayhem.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, it was Scott Hebig’s 203.6 pound halibut that hung on for the 1st place $15,000 cash prize. Hebig caught his 203.6 pound halibut June 20th aboard the Amanda Rose. James McQuain of Fairbanks finished 2nd in the halibut derby with a 171.6 pound halibut he caught July 25th aboard the Dawn Treader and Jeff Maurer of Elysburg, Pennsylvania took 3rd place with the 171.4 pound halibut he caught July 17th aboard the Dawn Treader. Hebig’s halibut is the smallest halibut on record to win the Valdez Derbies, with the exception of the years when the Chamber of Commerce held a target weight derby. In 2013, the winner of the $15,000 first place prize weighed in at 325 pounds. In 2014, the 1st place winner had a fish weighing 335.7 pounds; in 2013 the winner tipped the scales at 277.2.

Every derby ticket purchased in the Valdez Derbies gives the buyer a chance to win a Ford F-150 4x4 truck from Valdez Fish Derbies and Seekins Ford. This year’s winner was T.C. Greene of Valdez.The Captain’s Prize of $500 was awarded to Dave Towne of Valdez aboard the Amanda Rose for both the halibut and silver salmon derby. Judy Bartlett sold the winning Halibut Derby ticket at the weigh-in shack and won the $500 ticket seller prize. Janis Johnson and Susie Koklich sold the winning silver derby ticket at the Prospector and will split the $500 ticket seller prize.

Next year’s dates, as well as pictures and information about the 2014 winners, can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.

LAST CHANCE TO WIN AN EXTRA $500 WITH BIG PRIZE FRIDAY
“Big Prize Fridays” are held the first and the last Fridays during the span of the Silver Salmon Derby. The final Big Prize Friday is happening THIS Friday, August 29th where you have the chance to win $500 in addition to the regular daily prize!

Pictured: David Duke with his trophy size yellow eye rockfishANGLERS HOPE TO CATCH A BIG FISH BEFORE END OF DERBIES

VALDEZ, Alaska – With less than a week left in the Valdez Halibut and Silver Salmon Derbies, it would seem that there’s a good chance of the leaders being knocked off the board in the Halibut and Silver Salmon Derbies …that is, if history is any indication.

If Scott Hebig’s 203.6 pound halibut takes 1st place in the derby, it will be the smallest halibut on record to win the Valdez Derbies, with the exception of the years when the Chamber of Commerce held a target weight derby. In 2013, the winner of the $15,000 first place prize weighed in at 325 pounds. In 2014, the 1st place winner had a fish weighing 335.7 pounds; in 2013 the winner tipped the scales at 277.2.

In the silver salmon derby, Amanda Towne’s 17.54 pound silver would be a respectable fish to win the Valdez Silver Derby, but a Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby winner has never held on until the end of the derby. In 2013, the silver that took the big cash prize of $15,000 weighed in at 16.92. In 2012, the Silver Derby winner was 17.88. From 2008 through 2011, the 1st place winner weighed in at: 22.14 (2008), 22.14 (2009), 19.10 (2010) and 18.68 (2009).

The overall size of both halibut and silver salmon being brought in seems to be large this year, even though the silver fishing has been a bit slow. And anglers have brought in some sizeable ling cod and rock fish. David Duke reeled in a trophy yellow eye rockfish this past week while aboard a halibut charter

HARD WORK FINDING SILVERS BUT THE PAYOFF IS A BIG FISH
VALDEZ, Alaska – Anglers are having to fish a bit harder for silvers than normal, but some big fish have been brought into Port Valdez. And we found out this week that timing can be the key to winning in the Valdez Derby. Randy Main of Anchorage reeled in a 17.08 pound silver on Saturday aboard the Tom N Jo. Just 40 minutes after Main brought his fish to the weigh-in station, Terri Walters of Fairbanks brought a silver salmon to the weigh-in that was also exactly 17.08 pounds.

Since Main’s silver was weighed in first, he took the 1st place daily prize in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby and Walters took 2nd place daily. Being first also won Main the chance to take the 3rd place spot on the leader board. The 3rd place prize in the Silver Salmon Derby is $2,000 cash. Dan Eide of Valdez is currently in 2nd place for the Silver Salmon Derby and stands to win $5,000 cash. Eighteen-year-old and 2014 Women’s Silver Salmon Derby winner, Amanda Town, is holding onto 1st place. If Towne’s silver salmon remains the largest through August 31st, she will take home a $15,000 cash prize. Towne said in an interview following the Women’s Derby that she would use her winnings to pay for college.CLICK HERE to Continue Reading.

SILVERS WERE BIG, BUT FINNICKY DURING WOMEN’S DERBY WEEKEND
VALDEZ, Alaska – “The bite was on early in the morning, and then it just died,” said Valdez angler Barb Lyons. But that’s just what Lyons expected. Lyons took her boat, “Lyons Den” out on Friday to scout for silvers for the Women’s Derby and they caught a whopper of a fish early in the morning. Since the Women’s Derby was Saturday, Lyons said she figured it was the men’s day to fish. The 17.38 pound silver Dan Eide brought in Friday on her boat headed to the top of the derby leader board and got everyone excited about the possibility of catching big fish Saturday.

VALDEZ, Alaska – The silver salmon leader board was a bit sparse last week, but the weigh in is seeing more and more silvers as each day passes. According to Fish Derby Weigh-In station volunteers, most anglers that weighed in fish this weekend had several silvers in their coolers.

At this point, there doesn’t seem to be any sure-fire lure or depth to catch the silvers at. “People are catching them on different lures, at different depths and in places all over right now,” commented fish cutter Jim Thayer at the dock Sunday night.